Nominations for a national award that recognises dairy farmers who demonstrate leadership in their approach to sustainable dairying and who are ambassadors for the industry close this Wednesday, March 20.

The Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award was introduced last year by the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards to recognise those dairy farmers who are respected by their farming peers and their community for their attitude and role in sustainable dairying.

Entry for this award is by nomination only via dairyindustryawards.co.nz with entries closing March 20. From those nominations, three finalists will be selected and interviewed by a panel of judges on Friday May 10, and the winner announced at the National Final in Wellington on May 11.

The 2019 Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award farmer could come from any of New Zealand's milk suppliers and any farmer or farming partnership who demonstrates a high calibre of performance and leadership in the areas of responsible and sustainable care of people, animals, ecosystems and communities are eligible to enter.

The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, DeLaval, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda Motorcycles, LIC, Meridian Energy, and Ravensdown, along with industry partners DairyNZ and Primary ITO.

Rachel Baker, New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards Executive Chair, says that farmers are being encouraged to share stories of how they are farming responsibly, both environmentally and socially, and to showcase excellence.

'Many of our winners and entrants from our Dairy Trainee, Dairy Manager and Share Farmer awards programmes do just this and progress to leadership roles within the industry and their communities.”

'This Award gives us the opportunity to recognise farmers that have progressed to ownership, demonstrate leadership in their farming practices and are a role model for our younger farmers coming through” she says.

Fonterra's Managing Director of Co-operative Affairs Mike Cronin says the award embodies the Co-op's commitment to sustainable dairy farming.

'The Co-op and our farmers take their responsibilities to their communities, their animals and the environment seriously and they demonstrate this in the work they do every day. The criteria that farmers will be assessed against for this award are the foundation of our pledge to maintain and enhance a dairy industry that all New Zealanders can be proud of.”